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NFWF’s Fishery Improvement Partnership Fund is an investment model to help address overfishing, one of the biggest threats to the U.S. seafood supply. Developed as an official CGI Commitment to Action from the Walton Family Foundation and Darden Restaurants with the Clinton Global Initiative, the Fund will leverage philanthropic, industry and government resources to help develop and advance Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) worldwide.

It is estimated that more than 400 FIPs are needed to meet buyer demand for sustainable seafood worldwide. NFWF’s Fishery Improvement Partnership Fund’s first project will support the spiny lobster fishery in Honduras. This fishery is worth nearly $50 million in annual exports to the U.S. and provides direct employment to more than 4,000 people from coastal communities. Despite its economic importance, however, national management strategies and fisheries governance need to be improved before it can be considered sustainable.

Walton Family Foundation and Darden Restaurants are the primary sponsors of the Fishery Improvement Partnership Fund and will identify and recruit other contributors to the Fund. The FIP Fund will expand its focus to additional fisheries as partnerships and resources become available.